Which scenario represents negligence in patient care?

• A. Informed consent
• B. Boundary violation
• C. Professional misconduct
• D. Negligence

Answer: (D)

Negligence in patient care means failing to provide the level of care that a reasonably prudent professional would under similar circumstances, and that failure leads to patient harm. Four elements matter: there was a duty to care, a breach of that duty, the breach caused harm, and damages resulted. Informed consent relates to giving information and obtaining voluntary agreement from the patient; boundary violation concerns crossing professional limits; professional misconduct covers broader unethical or improper behavior. Negligence is specifically about not meeting the expected standard of care that then causes harm. For example, failing to monitor a patient after surgery and missing signs of trouble can be negligence if that failure leads to avoidable harm.